ASCOMYCETES 
188 
and strong-smelling at maturity, and many species in both 
families exhibit a remarkable predilection for the vicinity of 
certain trees. 
According to present knowledge, truffles are mostly 
European. It is, however, highly probable that they will 
eventually be found in all parts of the world. Quite 
recently many species have been recorded from Tasmania. 
In England they occur only on limestone soils, and de¬ 
crease in number northwards, being most abundant on the 
chalk of the South-Western counties. There are about thirty 
British species, the majority uncommon or rare. 
The smell of a truffle is strong enough to indicate its 
presence to dogs and pigs, and these animals are trained to 
seek them. The pig (generally a sow) is preferred in 
France. She scents the truffle at a distance of 20 feet, 
moving rapidly to the spot, and digging for them with her 
snout. She is stopped by her owner from obtaining them, 
and rewarded with an acorn or dry chestnut. In this 
country a dog is employed in the quest, a small white or 
black-and-white poodle, said to possess the homing faculty 
of a pigeon. 
Mr. Alfred Collins, a well-known Wiltshire truffler, writes 
me that his dogs “ in working would pass over the young 
truffles as if they were stones, as there is nothing whatever 
to attract their attention, there being no scent until the 
truffle begins to ripen, when it becomes very strong. In 
extreme cases our dogs have been known to scent a truffle 
from 60 to 80 yards distance. Of course, that would need 
the wind right. In such cases the dog takes a direct 
line for the truffle, which is usually about 2 in. below 
the surface.” Mr. Collins recollects but one occasion in 
which he found truffles with his dogs “outside” of the 
middle of Sept, and the middle of Feb. 
Berkeley observed: “ Like most articles of food wdiich 
are not in general use, a taste for truffles is an acquired one, 
